Fishing rod

Fishing boats

A fishing rod is a device used for fishing. Originally its body was made of natural components, mainly bamboo cane, from which comes its name as cane. There are also materials such as cherry wood or others. At present and due to new lighter components with identical behaviors, they are mostly manufactured with synthetic components.

Components

The Cane

Materials:

• The bamboo: was the material used for centuries for the manufacture of rods. Due to its great performance and versatility, the consolidated bamboo cane is still highly appreciated in rat tail fishing.
• The fiberglass: it was the material with which the first modern fishing rods were made. The fiberglass is a strong and flexible material that is still used today in the manufacture of rods for some fishing modalities.
• The graphite: thanks to its lightness and great resistance has gained a lot of land, although in its principles the fishermen were reluctant to use this material because of its great electrical conductivity, as it is a great lightning and, due to the manufacture of the lines with conductive materials such as fluorocarbon (carbon fiber), the risk of contacting electric driving lines can generate accidents by downloads.

The rings

Man using a fishing rod in the Old Port

The rings have been the product of evolution, from being mere fastening elements they have become fundamental parts of modern rods. There are some that are mere metal rings, currently they are covered with a ceramic ring on the inside to avoid rubbing with the line as much as possible and with this the abrasion of the latter is eliminated during the casting of lures. and/or baits.

The fundamental objective of the rings is to distribute the pressure of the line along the body of the rod when a fish pulls the rod taut from the other end when fishing. For this reason, a rod with more rings throughout its body will be more resistant to the tension exerted by the line than one with fewer.

The strongest rods, in addition to having a wider body, have roller rings that work on the principle of pulleys that -without being pulleys- efficiently distribute the pressure that fish as large as tuna or marlin can exert.

Currently, new generation rods made with highly resistant cutting-edge materials are being developed; these do not have rings and are hollow; the line passes through its interior, uniformly distributing the pressure along each centimeter of the same body without resorting to the support points generated by the rings.

The handle

The handle of the fishing rods is an element made of different materials such as cork or compressed neoprene foam to provide comfort to the fisherman during long days of fishing. It is also where the reel is mounted using threaded fastening rings to firmly fix it to the rod.

The handle can be of different sizes and shapes that depend on the type of fishing for which each rod is intended. For example: rod handles for "stand up" they are slightly longer, those of the rods for trolling at sea are molded at an angle to be mounted on the gunwale of boats, etc.

Specifications

The vast majority of fishing rods have different specifications printed on their base that clarify various aspects of each particular rod.

The action

The action refers to the type of flexibility that the rod presents, having fast action —little flexibility—, medium, slow —much flexibility—.

The resistance of the line

Each rod is designed to be used with lines in certain resistance ranges that, according to the IGFA, can go from ultra light at 2 pounds to extra heavy at 130 pounds (UL, L, M, MH, H, HEY).

The weight of the lures

The rods have a certain limit of resistance and flexibility that is clearly specified with the weight of the baits and/or lures that can be thrown with each one; this weight is indicated in ranges generally calculated in ounces (examples: 1/64-1/2oz., 1/2-3oz.).

Types of reeds

Telescopic fishing. Lake Baikal. East Siberia

There are several types of fishing rods, which are specified for the style or type of fishing to be carried out, although the components and specifications are of a general nature. The most popular types of rods are:

• Caña for open reel spool line parallel to the rod is placed below.
• Caña de casting: for open reel with spool line perpendicular to the rod is placed above.
• Caña de spincast: for closed reel.
• Caña de spinning: for front brake reel
• Fly Caña: for reel of floating lines, neutras or submersible with fly imitation hooks.
• Pertiga-type sticks: long-size rods for shore fishing in the European style (a coup).
• Caña de surfcasting: large-size fishing rods from beach shore.
• Fishing rods in high seas (trolling).